Box Score
|
Junior Sam Gardner was part of a strong defensive effort for the Jumbos
|
MEDFORD - Sophomore goalie Patton Watkins (Chattanooga, TN) saved 10 of 14 shots on net and Tufts allowed its fewest goals to a NESCAC opponent in three years during a 9-4 victory against Colby College on Friday afternoon at Bello Field.
The Jumbos (4-1, 3-0 NESCAC) had the game well under control up 7-2 after three periods before the Mules scored twice in the fourth. Juniors Matt Callahan (Acton, MA), John Heard (Greenwich, CT) and Sam Gardner (Chelmsford, MA), along with sophomores Dan Alles (Rockville Centre, NY) and Kane Delaney (Brookeville, MD) led the defensive effort. Colby did not score until the 4:59 mark of the second quarter. The four goals allowed in a conference game were the fewest since the 2009 Jumbos defeated Bates 22-3 on March 31, 2009.
The game was scoreless for most of the first period until sophomore Beau Wood (Sherwood Forest, MD) and senior co-captain Kevin McCormick (Laytonsville, MD) had goals late in the quarter for a 2-0 Tufts advantage.
The Jumbos pushed their lead to 4-0 with senior Geordie Shafer (Rancho Santa Fe, CA) and sophomore Peter Bowers (Contestoga, PA) scoring second-period goals before Bjorn Knutson (Bloomington, MN) tallied for Colby. Tufts led 4-1 at intermission.
Senior Ben Saperstein (Hewlett, NY) scored twice in the third period as the Jumbos extended their lead to 7-1. Colby scored three of the last five goals to account for the 9-4 final, including back-to-back scores by sophomore James Wyse (Newton, MA) and junior John Jennings (Danvers, MA) in the fourth.
Senior Nick Rhoads (McLean, VA) dominated face-offs for Tufts, winning 13 of 17. The Jumbos had 47 shots to 29 for the Mules. Freshman Cole Bailey (Millersville, MD) assisted on three Jumbo goals and scored once for a four-point game. Wood tallied two goals with an assist. Heard caused two turnovers while Delaney collected three ground balls.
Six different players scored a point each for Colby, which fell to 2-2 overall and 1-2 in the league. Senior tri-captain Jonathan McIvor (Sudbury, MA) finished with three ground balls and an assist for the Mules. Sophomore goalie Peter Reiley (Marblehead, MA) made 14 saves, including seven in the second period, and grabbed four groundballs.
The Jumbos play their third ranked non-conference opponent in nine days when they travel to #19 Western New England on Sunday for a 2 pm start. Colby plays next at Connecticut College on Saturday, March 31.
Game boxscore
Game Photos by Kelvin Ma/Tufts University
